SOMA - Paradigm

SOMA

Paradigm
self-released; 2016

3.7 out of 5

​By Jamie Funk
​

SOMA is one of those bands that you can’t really put a definitive finger on, but they exist somewhere within the realm of alternative/punk and exhibit traits of a multitude of other genres as well. Located in Lancaster in the UK, SOMA offers a straightforward, raucous debut EP titled Paradigm. 

Don’t listen to this EP if you want something soft. Honestly, don’t listen to this unless you’re wanting something to head bang to. Considering I first listened to this while learning about the War on Drugs, it fueled my anger fully. It’s pretty intense from start to finish, but with that being said, I think the band does a very nice job of showcasing an extraordinary amount of energy throughout the collection of tunes. “Beaten Track” and “Backlash” exhibit the band’s enthusiasm very well. 

My biggest complaint with Paradigm is that, although it is short in length, consisting of just five songs, a couple of the songs ran together pretty clearly, and I would have liked to hear a little more variety from the group. It is clear through their music that they pull influences from a plethora of places, and I would have liked for them to illustrate that through their track-list. Because Paradigm is a debut EP, it makes sense that this problem occurred, and I’m sure it will get fixed come their next release. 

I appreciate their usage of melodic bass lines throughout the EP, and I think it pairs very well with the oftentimes thrashing nature of the guitar. The band defies the typical guitar-bass relationship in the sense that the band would occasionally present the guitar as the backbone of the song with the bass serving as the primary sense of melody instead of the other way around. The last song on the EP “Shadows In Your Step” accurately presents the instrumental capabilities of the band. 

Something the group can work on is matching their vocals and instrumentation. Sometimes I felt that they would be casting off two different vibes at the same time, which made me feel conflicted as to how I should feel in certain parts of the music. 

​I look forward to hearing what SOMA puts out in the future, as I do think that this is a strong debut release. Once they get closer to finding their sound they should definitely turn some heads, and I feel that Paradigm is a very good start.

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